c. 1300, "a task, a project;" later "exertion of the body; trouble, difficulty, hardship" (late 14c.), from Old French labor "labor, toil, work, exertion, task" (12c., Modern French labeur), from Latin laborem (nominative labor) "labor, toil, exertion; hardship, pain, fatigue; a work, a product of labor," of uncertain origin, perhaps originally from the notion of "tottering under a burden," and related to labere "to totter."
Meaning "body of laborers considered as a class" (usually contrasted to capitalists) is from 1839. Sense of "physical exertions of childbirth" is 1590s, earlier labour of birthe (early 15c.), a sense also found in Old French, and compare French en travail "in (childbirth) suffering" (see travail). Labor Day first marked 1882 in New York City.
late 14c., "perform manual or physical work; work hard; keep busy; take pains, strive, endeavor" (also "copulate"), from Old French laborer "work, toil; struggle, have difficulty," from Latin laborare, from labor (see labor (n.)). The verb in modern French, Spanish, Portuguese means "to plow;" the wider sense being taken by the equivalent of English travail. Sense of "to endure pain, suffer" is early 15c., especially in phrase labor of child. Related: Labored; laboring.
双语例句
1. Each family farms individually and reaps the benefit of its labor.
各家经营各自的农场，收获各自的劳动成果。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The trading day is shortened in observance of the Labor Day holiday.
因庆祝劳工节，这个交易日交易时间缩短了。
来自柯林斯例句
3. The British Labor Party concludes its annual conference today in Brighton.
英国工党的年度会议今天在布赖顿闭幕。
来自柯林斯例句
4. The Labor Department figures underscore the shaky state of the economic recovery.
劳工部的数据进一步印证了经济复苏状况的不稳定。
来自柯林斯例句
5. The current division of labor between workers and management will alter.
